Initiation-step.



E. L. WOODMAN.

I v IATION STEP. APPLICA FILED MAY 4. 1909.

934,122. 'Patented 14,1909.

2 E S-SHEET l.

E. L. W'ooDMAN.

INITIATION STEP.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 4. 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W7.. 4 JW' ANDREW. e. GRAHAM en.. Puma-nrnnemrnsns. wAsMlNmnN. n. c.

IQFI.

ERNEST L. WOODMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INITIATION-STEP.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Iimns'r L. VVooDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot' Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Initiation-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is, broadly, to provide a set of initiation Steps of novel construction and attractive appearance for lodge and society work, and more specifically to provide a set of steps with openings covered with colored glass and made emblematie of an order and a plurality of electric lights within the steps adapted to be automatically turned on and ott as the initiate walks thereon.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment ofthe invention Figure 1 is a perspective View of the steps. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 8 is a detail enlarged sectional view showing the spring latch for locking the third or top step. Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged sectional view showing one of the springs for elevating the steps to break the Contact. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the'line 5-5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 7 designates the frame, and the treads 8, 9 and 10 of the three steps have their rear edges hinged to the frame at 8, 9 and 10 respectively. The front of the frame is provided with a glass door 11 and the risers 12 and ends ot' the steps have glass windows 13. These windows are preferably made in an emblematic shape and they and the glass door are colored and provided with symbols or are otherwise ornamented in a manner emblematic of an order or society. The riser of each step is provided at its upper edge with a contact 14 which is arranged to be engaged by a contact 15 on the underside of the tread of each step and the free edge of each tread is normally held in elevated position with the contacts out of engagement by the springs 16 which are seated in the risers and bear upward against the treads (Figs. 4, Each tread has an opening 17 covered by a glass plate 17 which may be emblematically colored and ornamented.

An electric socket 18 is fastened to the frame in any suitable position to receive an electric plug 18 which may be connected to an ordinary electric light circuit. One or more electric light lamps 20, 21 and 22 are Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 4, 1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909..

Serial No. 493,951.

suitably supported on shelves 19 in the steps and another electric light lamp 23 is suitably supported within the frame behind the door 11. The lamp 23 is connected in a main circuit by wires 24 with the socket 18; the lamp 2O is connected in a circuit by wires 25, 25 and 25 with the contacts oit the first step and the main circuit wires 24; the lamp 21 is connected by wires 26, 26 and 26 with the contacts of the second step and the main circuit wires 24; the lamp 22 is connected by wires 27, 27 and 27 with the contacts of the third step and the main circuit wires 24. The contacts on the second step are made like the contacts on the lirst step but on the third step the riser is provided with three separate contacts 28, 28 and 28 and the tread has a single contact 29 to engage all of these three contacts. The wires 27 and 27 are connected to the contacts 28 and 29, respectively. A wire 30 is connected to the Contact 28 and to the wire 25 and a wire 21 is connected to the contact 28 and to the wire 26.

In practice when the steps are in use and the current is turned onl the lamp 23 will remain lighted constantly, the lamp 2O will be lighted when the contacts of the lirst step are engaged, the lamp 21 will be lighted when the contacts of the second step are engaged, and the lamps 20, 21 and 22 will all be lighted when the contacts of the third step are engaged. The contacts are engaged when the initiate Vwalks, up the steps, his weight overcoming the pressure of springs 16 to depress the tread. When the top step is thus depressed a spring actuated bolt 82 on the riser of the third step is engaged with a latch plate 83 on the; tread of the third step to lock the tread of the third step in lowered position, thus holding the contacts of the third step in enga-gement to keep all the lamps lighted. Removable cover plates 34 are provided within the steps to permit access to the lamps.

My invention provides an attractive and instructive device for lodge or society work and it is automatically operated by the initiate in walking up the steps. Variations can be made in the construction and arrangement of parts to adapt the steps for dierent lodge work.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Initiation steps comprising a frame, a plurality of movable steps on the trame,

glass covered openings in the frame and steps, electric lights Withinv the steps, and means connected With the steps to be automaticallyoperated When the initiate vWalks up the steps for turning on the electric cnr-lV rent to the steps consecutively.

2. nitiation steps comprising a frame, a plurality of movable steps on the frame, glass coveredl openings in the Vframe and steps, electric lights Within the steps, and means `connected with the steps to be automatically .operated by the initiate for completing the electric circuit for the'light in each step when hesteps thereon.

3. 'Initiation steps-comprising a frame, 'a plurality of movable steps on the frame, glass co-vered openings in the frame and steps, electric lights within the steps, means connected with the steps toA he automatically operated by the initiate for completing the electric circuit for the lights of each step helou7 the top when he steps thereon and for all the stepswhen he steps on the top step.

el. Initiation steps comprising a frame, a plurality of steps on the frame, glass cov-v ered openings in the frame and steps, electric lights Within the steps, the treads of the steps being hinged at their rear vedges to the frame, an electric circuit for the lights of each step, contacts in said circuit and located opposite each other in the treads and risers,rand1` springs normally holding the treads elevated.

5. Initiation -steps comprising aframe, aV

plurality of steps on the frame, glass covered openings in the frame and steps, electric lights Within .the steps, the treadsof the .steps being hinged at their'rear edges tothe y treads and risers, and springs normallyhol'ding thetreads elevated. Y

(S. Vinitiation steps comprising a frame, a plurality ot' steps on the frame, glass-cow'kr ered openings in the frame and steps, electric lights within the steps, the treads of the steps heilig hingedv at ftheir rear edges to theV trame, an electric circuit for the lights` 'of treads aiidrisers, springs normally holding the treads elevated, and a latchfor` holdingY the topY step depressed withv the contacts thereon in engagement. x Y

7. Initiation steps comprising a frame, -Va

plurality of steps on the frame, glasscov-V,A`

ered openings in the frame and steps, electric lights Vwithin the steps, the treads of the.V

steps being hinged at their rear edgesrto the 1 traine, an electric circuit kfor the lights of each step, another electric circuit for the lightsotall the steps, contacts vin said circuits and located opposite each otherinthe treads and risers, springsinorinally holding the treads elevated, Vand a constantly operated light in the "frame, w EaNEsr L. Woonu'iritl l/Vitnesses: f Y i Y 7 WVM. O. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE.

5e f each step, anotherelectric.circuit for the" lights .of all thevsteps, contacts in saidtcii- .cuits and located opposite each other inthe 

